Vizualizare sursă pentru „OS Lab 1 - Installing Linux”

This laboratory establishes the working environment for the remainder of the course. By the end, you will have a clean Ubuntu 24.04 LTS virtual machine, a shell-first workflow via Windows Terminal using SSH, and two verification screenshots.

= Expanded introduction =

== Linux (course context) ==
Linux is a kernel that manages hardware resources and provides core services such as process scheduling, memory management, and device I/O. In practice, learners interact with complete GNU/Linux distributions that combine the Linux kernel with user-space tooling, a package manager, and configuration defaults. In this course, most activities occur in the '''POSIX shell environment''' with GNU/Linux extensions because this is the most direct setting for exploring processes, filesystems, permissions, pipelines, and scripting. The shell and standard utilities are defined by the POSIX specifications to promote portability across Unix-like systems (see the references below).

== Ubuntu and distributions ==
Ubuntu is a widely used GNU/Linux distribution that emphasizes sensible defaults, extensive package repositories, and strong hardware and cloud support. It is a pragmatic choice for instruction because it balances stability with access to current toolchains and documentation.

== Ubuntu LTS releases ==
Ubuntu provides two release types: interim releases on a 6‑month cadence and '''Long-Term Support (LTS)''' releases every two years. LTS releases receive five years of standard security updates, with optional extended coverage through Ubuntu Pro/ESM. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ("Noble Numbat") has standard support through April 2029. This stability reduces environmental drift during a semester and simplifies troubleshooting and grading.

== Virtual machines for teaching ==
A virtual machine provides an isolated, reproducible environment. You can experiment freely, take snapshots, and return to a known state when needed. This approach minimizes host-specific issues and keeps attention on operating-systems concepts.

== Why the GUI appears only once ==
After initial verification, work proceeds primarily in the shell. This aligns the lab activities with the course focus and reduces overhead. The Ubuntu desktop is used only to confirm a successful installation and to capture one required screenshot.

= Objectives and deliverables =

;You will:
* Provision '''Ubuntu 24.04 LTS''' in '''VirtualBox''' on Windows (via the referenced installation guide).
* Perform a brief post-install verification in the Ubuntu GUI.
* Enable SSH on the VM and connect from '''Windows Terminal'''.
* Install and run '''fastfetch''' to verify system details.

;Submit to the LMS:
* '''Screenshot #1:''' ''fastfetch'' running in the '''Ubuntu GUI Terminal'''.
* '''Screenshot #2:''' ''fastfetch'' running in '''Windows Terminal''' after SSH into the VM.

;Host prerequisites (Windows 10/11):
* Virtualization enabled (Task Manager → Performance → CPU → ''Virtualization: Enabled'').
* ~30 GB free disk; ≥8 GB RAM (allocate ≥4 GB to the VM).
* VirtualBox, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Desktop ISO, and Windows Terminal installed.

= Installation (external tutorial) =

Follow this tutorial to create the VM and install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS in VirtualBox on Windows. When finished, return to this guide for the post‑installation steps.

* [https://automaticaddison.com/how-to-install-ubuntu-24-04-virtual-machine-on-a-windows-pc/ How to Install Ubuntu 24.04 Virtual Machine on a Windows PC] (Automatic Addison).

''Networking choice during VM creation: use '''Bridged Adapter''' so the VM obtains a LAN IP address, which simplifies SSH from Windows Terminal.''

= Post-installation: one-time GUI verification and update =

# Log in to the Ubuntu desktop.
# Open '''Terminal''' (Activities → search "Terminal").
# Verify basic network connectivity:
<pre>
ping -c 2 ubuntu.com
</pre>
# Update the system:
<pre>
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
</pre>

You will install ''fastfetch'' shortly and take the first screenshot.

= Terminal primer =

The following commands will be used frequently throughout the course.

;Help and documentation
<pre>
command --help
man command     # press q to quit
</pre>

;Navigation and files
<pre>
pwd
ls -la
cd ~/; mkdir lab1 && cd lab1
touch notes.txt
nano notes.txt   # Ctrl+O (save), Enter, Ctrl+X (exit)
cp notes.txt notes.bak
mv notes.txt notes.md
rm -i notes.bak
</pre>

;Viewing and searching
<pre>
ls -la | less
less /etc/os-release
grep -n "NAME" /etc/os-release
</pre>

;Processes
<pre>
ps aux | less
top
</pre>

;Packages
<pre>
sudo apt update
apt-cache search curl
</pre>

= Enable SSH in Ubuntu (inside the VM) =

Install and start the SSH server:

<pre>
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openssh-server
sudo systemctl enable --now ssh
sudo systemctl status ssh   # should indicate "active (running)"
</pre>

Determine the VM’s IP address (assuming '''Bridged''' networking):

<pre>
hostname -I      # select the LAN IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.x.y)
# or:
ip -br a         # locate the UP interface (e.g., enp0s3) and its IPv4 address
</pre>

= Install and run fastfetch (inside the VM) =

''fastfetch'' provides a concise system overview (OS, kernel, CPU, memory, GPU).

<pre>
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y fastfetch
fastfetch
</pre>

= Windows Terminal + SSH (primary workflow) =

Open '''Windows Terminal''' (PowerShell profile), then connect to the VM:

<pre class="language-powershell">
ssh youruser@VM_IP
</pre>

On first connection, accept the host key (type <code>yes</code>) and enter your Ubuntu password.

Verify and run:

<pre>
whoami
hostname -I
fastfetch
</pre>

''Optional: create a Windows Terminal profile that launches <code>ssh youruser@VM_IP</code> for quicker access in future labs.''

= Submission =

Upload both images to the '''Lab 1''' assignment in the LMS:
* <code>fastfetch_gui_&lt;yourname&gt;.png</code>
* <code>fastfetch_ssh_&lt;yourname&gt;.png</code>

= Focused troubleshooting =

;VM offers only 32-bit or fails to start
: Enable Intel VT-x/AMD-V in BIOS/UEFI. Ensure that no other hypervisor is reserving hardware virtualization.

;No network or cannot SSH
: VirtualBox → VM '''Settings → Network → Adapter 1: Bridged Adapter'''.  
: In Ubuntu:
<pre>
ip -br a               # confirm an IPv4 address is assigned
systemctl status ssh   # should be active (running)
sudo systemctl restart ssh
ping -c 2 8.8.8.8      # basic connectivity check
</pre>

;Authentication issues
: Use the username created during installation and re-enter the password carefully (no characters echo in the terminal).

;''fastfetch'' not found
<pre>
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y fastfetch
</pre>

= References =
* Ubuntu release cycle and support windows (including 24.04 LTS): [https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle Ubuntu Release Cycle].
* Ubuntu 24.04 LTS support horizon (standard support through April 2029): [https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle Ubuntu Release Cycle] and vendor communications.
* POSIX shell and utilities overview: [https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/ The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 7, 2018 edition].
* Installation walkthrough used for this lab: [https://automaticaddison.com/how-to-install-ubuntu-24-04-virtual-machine-on-a-windows-pc/ How to Install Ubuntu 24.04 Virtual Machine on a Windows PC] (Automatic Addison).